The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-07-01
Sharp's Conviction.

The conviction of Jacob Sharp was a fore
gone conclusion from the moment the evil
dence closed, assuming that the jury was
composed Of honest men. Sharp's struggle to
get out of the strong web of circumstantial
evidence that the prosecution wove around
him was remarkable only for its weakness.
Ever since he was indicted it has been in
timated that when his trial came there
would be some startling disclosures. 1t was
asserted that he had perfect defence, and
would make it so clear to the jury that his
acquittal would be assured. Instead of that
SO overwhelming was the proof of his
guilt, that he gave up without strug-
gle that deserves the name. He did not dare
trustee = own behalf, but
Ia enIlrely to the ability of his counsel
to pull wool over the jury's eyes. The ma
terial was very scarce, however, and the jul
rvs vision was fairly acute So Jake Sharp
was convicted, and is now on the high road
to the penetentiary. OF course all the de-
vices which LAWYERS stimulated by liberal
fees can invent will be resorted to, still, to
save him. But the fact that his confeder-
ates, in spite of the employment of all these
devices in their behalf, are in the peniten-
tiary, must make it apparent to Sharp and
his lawyers that his hope of escape is a very
forlorn one.
The conviction of Sharp is matter for
congratulation not only because he deserved
it and his escape would have been trayesty
Of justice, but also on account of the salu-
tary lesson it will teach Sharp was rich
and influential, and the impression has long
been abroad. especially in great cities, that
men of his resources had little to fear from
the law No doubt tens of thousands of the
citizens of New York have felt that Sharp's
money would be potent enough to save him.
The apprehension was not without some rea-
son. There were many ways in which he
could make the influence of his money felt
BY it witnesses of his guilt might be induced
to absent themselves, and by it men might
be obtained to give false testimony on his
behalf. One juryman under the influence of
It might save him from conviction in spite
OF the other eleven. And with his money he
could hire the best of lawyers to detect
any informality in the proceedings against
him and to confound and confuse the Jury.
That in spite of all the seductive influences
which he was atle to spread around the
jury ignored all considerations but the evil
dence in the case and promptly returned a
verdict OF guilty against him speaks volumes
for the sincerity of the prosecuting officers
and for their skill and caution, as well as for
the honesty and integrity Of the twelve men
who were selected out of several thousand
to pronounce upon the defendants guilt or
innocence; and shows that even in great
city like New York, where corrupt and pur-
chasable elements abound, justice is pretty
certain 10 overtaks even the rich and power
full transgressor.
Our jury system has been attacked because
it has failed in some instances to produce
correct results. This case of Sharp's ought
to go long way to restore it to the conf
dence of those even who had begun to look
upon it as failure, for which some substi-
tute must be sought.